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Psychological consequences of COVID-19 home confinement: The ECLB-COVID19 multicenter study

Ammar A 1 , Mueller P 2 , Trabelsi K 3 , Chtourou H 3 , Boukhris O 3 , Masmoudi L 3 Show all authors , Bouaziz B 4 , Brach M 5 , Schmicker M 2 , Bentlage E 5 , How D 5 , Ahmed M 5 , Aloui A 6 , Hammouda O 3 , Paineiras-Domingos LL 7 , Braakman-Jansen A 8 , Wrede C 8 , Bastoni S 8 , Pernambuco CS 9 , Mataruna-Dos-Santos LJ 10 , Taheri M 11 , Irandoust K 11 , Khacharem A 12 , Bragazzi NL 13 , Adrian Washif J 14 , Glenn JM 15 , Bott NT 16 , Gargouri F 4 , Chaari L 17 , Batatia H 17 , Khoshnami SC 18 , Samara E 19 , Zisi V 20 , Sankar P 21 , Ahmed WN 22 , Ali GM 23 , Abdelkarim O 23 , Jarraya M 3 , El Abed K 3 , Romdhani M 6 , Souissi N 6 , Van Gemert-Pijnen L 8 , Bailey SJ 24 , Moalla W 3 , Gómez-Raja J 25 , Epstein M 26 , Sanderman R 27 , Schulz S 28 , Jerg A 28 , Al-Horani R 29 , Mansi T 30 , Jmail M 31 , Barbosa F 32 , Ferreira-Santos F 32 , Šimunič B 33 , Pišot R 33 , Gaggioli A 34 , Zmijewski P 35 , Steinacker JM 28 , Strahler J 36 , Riemann L 37 , Riemann BL 38 , Mueller N 2 , Chamari K 39 , Driss T 40 , Hoekelmann A 1 , ECLB-COVID19 Consortium

Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 2 Research Group Neuroprotection, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
  • 3 High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • 4 Higher Institute of Computer Science and Multimedia of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • 5 Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
  • 6 Physical Activity, Sport, and Health, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis, Tunisia
  • 7 Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 8 Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
  • 9 Laboratório de Fisiologia do Exercício, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
  • 10 Faculty of Management, Sport Management Department, Canadian University of Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 11 Faculty of Social Science, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
  • 12 UVHC, DeVisu, Valenciennes; LIRTES-EA 7313. Université Paris Est Créteil Val de Marne, Créteil, France
  • 13 Department of Health Sciences, Postgraduate School of Public Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
  • 14 Sports Performance Division, National Sports Institute of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 15 Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
  • 16 Clinical Excellence Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
  • 17 Computer Science Department, University of Toulouse, IRIT-INP-ENSEEIHT, Toulouse, France
  • 18 UFR STAPS, UPL, Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
  • 19 Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece
  • 20 Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
  • 21 Consultant in Internal Medicine and Diabetes, MGM Muthoot Hospitals Pathanamthitta, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India
  • 22 Consultant Family Physician, CRAFT Hospital and Research Centre, Kodungallur, Kerala, India
  • 23 Faculty of Physical Education, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
  • 24 School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
  • 25 FundeSalud, Dept. of Health and Social Services, Government of Extremadura, Merida, Spain
  • 26 The E-Senior Association, Paris, France
  • 27 Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • 28 Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
  • 29 Department of Exercise Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
  • 30 Faculty of Physical Education, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
  • 31 Digital Research Centre of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • 32 Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • 33 Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre Koper, Koper, Slovenia
  • 34 Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
  • 35 Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
  • 36 Department of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Gießen, Gießen, Germany
  • 37 PharmD, BCBS; PharmIAD, Inc, Savannah, GA, United States of America
  • 38 Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, United States of America
  • 39 ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
  • 40 Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neurosciences, Physiology and Psychology: Physical Activity, Health and Learning, UFR STAPS, UPL, Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0240204.
PMID: 33152030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240204

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Public health recommendations and government measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced restrictions on daily-living. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on mental health and emotional wellbeing is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey (ECLB-COVID19) was launched on April 6, 2020 in seven languages to elucidate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on mental health and emotional wellbeing.

METHODS: The ECLB-COVID19 electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists, following a structured review of the literature. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online-survey-platform and was promoted by thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western-Asia and the Americas. All participants were asked for their mental wellbeing (SWEMWS) and depressive symptoms (SMFQ) with regard to "during" and "before" home confinement.

RESULTS: Analysis was conducted on the first 1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%). The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on both mental-wellbeing and on mood and feelings. Specifically, a significant decrease (p < .001 and Δ% = 9.4%) in total score of the SWEMWS questionnaire was noted. More individuals (+12.89%) reported a low mental wellbeing "during" compared to "before" home confinement. Furthermore, results from the mood and feelings questionnaire showed a significant increase by 44.9% (p < .001) in SMFQ total score with more people (+10%) showing depressive symptoms "during" compared to "before" home confinement.

CONCLUSION: The ECLB-COVID19 survey revealed an increased psychosocial strain triggered by the home confinement. To mitigate this high risk of mental disorders and to foster an Active and Healthy Confinement Lifestyle (AHCL), a crisis-oriented interdisciplinary intervention is urgently needed.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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